How life has changed in Knowsley

Knowsley's population decreased by about 4,600 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population decreased

In the decade to 2011, the population of Knowsley fell by 3.0%, from just over 150,000 to 146,000.

The loss of just under 5,000 people means this area's population was the third-most rapidly-declining in the North West and was the fourth most rapidly-declining across England.

In 2011, Knowsley was home to, on average, 12 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Knowsley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Knowsley increased by four years, from 36 to 40 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,700 people between the ages of 50 and 59 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 7,000.

About 14.0% of people in Knowsley are aged between 50 and 59 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Knowsley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Knowsley residents that were self-employed increased from 4.2% to 5.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (50.1%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 44.8% in 2001. The percentage of Knowsley residents that were unemployed increased from 5.9% to 6.5%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.1% in 2001 to 8.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Knowsley increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Knowsley, the North West and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

Knowsley saw the North West's largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.4%) households in Knowsley had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 13.3% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 35.4% to 32.0%.

Across the region, Sefton saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 11.8% in 2001 to 12.7% in 2011).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Knowsley

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Knowsley was among those who said they had no religion, rising 7.0 points.

In 2011, 13.4% of respondents in Knowsley gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 6.4% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Knowsley, 85.8% said they were Christian, compared with 93.2% in 2001. About 0.3% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.2% a decade prior.

In Knowsley, 5.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.1% in 2001. Across the North West, 6.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Knowsley increased by 7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Knowsley by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Knowsley

The percentage of Knowsley residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 87.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.2%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 5.5% in 2001. The percentage of Knowsley residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.1% to 6.0%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 88.9%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Knowsley

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Knowsley, but at a slower rate than in Liverpool (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Knowsley).

In Knowsley, the proportion of single people increased from 34.5% in 2001 to 40.3% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Liverpool increased from 41.7% to 49.7%.

Across the North West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30.1% to 35.6%.

The proportion of married people in Knowsley fell from 45.0% to 40.2%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner remained close to 11.4%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Knowsley that rented privately increased from 4.2% to 9.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.6%) households lived in social housing, compared with 31.2% in 2001. The percentage of Knowsley households that owned their home increased from 61.0% to 61.8%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Knowsley increased by 5.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Knowsley, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Knowsley residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13.6% to 9.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (75.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65.0% in 2001. The percentage of Knowsley residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.3% to 14.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Knowsley decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Knowsley, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Knowsley working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 8.6% to 6.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 50 (2.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Knowsley decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Knowsley, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Knowsley, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.2% to 9.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.1%) households had only one person, compared with 29.0% in 2001. The percentage of households in Knowsley which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 32.6% to 28.8%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Knowsley increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Knowsley, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Knowsley

In 2011, 97.2% of Knowsley residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.4% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 94.4% to 90.2%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.3% of people in Knowsley said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.8% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.5% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.4%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Knowsley decreased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Knowsley by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Knowsley residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 3.5% to 4.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Knowsley remained close to 4.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Knowsley by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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